Oxfordshire crashed to a heavy 24-12 defeat away to BDO Inter-Counties Championship Premier Division title hopefuls Lancashire.

The visitors’ chances of taking anything from the trip to Bolton looked remote from the outset, as the ladies’ B team suffered a 6-0 whitewash.

The other matches were more closely-fought, but the highlight was the ladies’ A’s efforts in forcing a 3-3 draw.

After the ladies’ B thrashing, Oxfordshire’s first point was registered by Dion Newman, from the men’s B team.

Man-of-the-match Kevin Wilkins, Lee Russell and Stephen Wright also came out on top.

But a lack of winning doubles cost the team dearly, with five players edged out by a single leg.

Ex-England international Dee Bateman won on her Oxfordshire debut with the ladies’ A side, while Deta Hedman was named the visitors’ lady-of-the-match for a 3-0 victory.

Linda Jones also won as the spoils were shared 3-3.

But with Lancashire leading 17-7 overall, it left the men’s A with an almost impossible task to salvage anything from the match.

Stuart Dutton got them off to a good start with victory, and they were never behind in a see-saw opening ten games.

Ade Larner, Preben Krabben, who was man-of-the-match, Ian Moss and Eamon Lilly won their contests to give the visitors hope.

But Lancashire claimed the final three games to win 7-5 and clinch an emphatic overall victory.

The defeat saw Oxfordshire slip to sixth in the table.

But there will be plenty to play for when Glamorgan visit for the final fixture of the season at the end of the month.

Just five points separate the county from the three sides above them, so a top-three finish remains a possibility.